3.5 False and misleading environmental marketing claims
fuel consumer scepticism
At the same time, and maybe because they are willing to pay more for ethical products, consumers
have become increasingly sceptical of products’ environmentally friendly claims. Trust in labels
has declined in recent years, as companies have begun to hijack terms such as “green,” “natural,”
“eco-friendly” or “organic” to profit from the rise in environmentally friendly product consumption.
Currently, only one-third or less of consumers believe the labels “natural,” “fair trade” or “free
range.” Other labels—such as “biodegradable,” “non-toxic” or “low-VOC”—are also now on
consumers’ radar. Recent lawsuits against multinational food and beverage companies that have
made misleading product claims have further dampened consumer confidence in such labels.
Media attention and websites such as Greenwashing Index have increased consumer awareness of
this problem.